Daily Office Readings for Monday of Proper 18: Year 1
Morning, Psalms 41 and 52; Evening, Psalm 44;
1st Kings 13:1 to 10; Philippians 1:1 to 11; Mark 15:40 to 47”
“There were also women looking on from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. These used to follow him and provided for him when he was in Galilee; and there were many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem:” (Mark 15: 40 and 41).
This passage reminds me of Sunday Holy Services when COVID ravaged the service and we had maybe 22 present. There were 19 women and 3 men. The men were all a part of the worship support, the priest (myself), the Eucharistic minister and the acolyte. The ushers (who took the count), and all in the pews were women. I’m guessing that if the men had not been assigned a duty, they would not have been present either. Where are the men of persistent faith?
Women have always supported the Church and by extension, Jesus himself. There are some denominations that believe that women should not be in Church leadership. To this I say, Balderdash! Our Lord Jesus did all he could to make us remember that woman are as equally important in the message of the Gospel as are men.
The two greatest ever Christian sermons are given by women. Mary his mother says to the servants of Jesus (that’s you and me), “Do whatever he tells you:” (John 2:5) And Mary Magdalene is commissioned to proclaim the Easter message, “Christ is Risen! And that she has seen the Lord!” (John 20:17 and 18).
Since the time our Lord Jesus walked among us, even when he was dragged to the cross, women, faithful women, were with him. Women are still holding our Church together. Just as I ponder why women have such strong faith, I also ponder why so many men do not. Perhaps faith is closely associated with the capacity to nurture as does a mother to her child. I don’t know, but I do believe that love is the most important ingredient in faith. Thank You Lord Jesus.
Today our Church remembers The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and her information may be found at: Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Today our Church also remembers Soren Kierkegaard, Teacher and Philosopher, (September 8, 1855) and his information may be found at: Søren Kierkegaard.
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
Let us Pray:
O Almighty God, Who walked among us as a human man, reared by a human man (Joseph) and personally led several apostolic men to spread the Gospel, Lead us again O lord as men are in desperate need of Your life-giving faith. Do this again through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
onewhoponders 